Three Things to Know Heading Into Scrimmage No. 1

Photo by: Adam Prendergast

Three Things to Know Heading Into Scrimmage No. 1

8/13/2021 3:46:00 PM | Football

By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Ala. – Troy is deep into preparations for the looming season opener against Southern on Saturday, Sept. 4, in The Vet, with six practices under its belt and a seventh coming Friday afternoon. Here are three things to know about Troy's first week of fall camp.

1. Moving Day

The next milestone on the calendar for the Trojans is Saturday's scrimmage inside The Vet. It will be an important day across the board for the team and especially at several key positions where position battles are in the midst.

"I've said it many times, but it's true – competition makes everyone better and you can see that over this first week of practice," head coach Chip Lindsey said. "At cornerback and defensive line especially, the competition has been intense, and at offensive line we've got eight guys who we think can play. Saturday will be 'Moving Day,' and our players need to understand the importance of each opportunity they get when they step on the field."

Saturday's scrimmage will be full contact for everyone except the quarterbacks, and Lindsey was quick to emphasize the importance of going full speed.

"We need to establish our identity of being a physical football team," Lindsey said. "That is something that we have emphasized on both sides of the ball throughout camp. With the new rules, we have limited opportunities to have full-contact practices, so we must take advantage of the time when we can tackle."

2. Tight Ends

Troy has a stable of tight ends, and it doesn't seem like they will be afraid to use them this year. A.J. Lewis and Deyunkrea Lewis are back, while junior college transfer Clayton Ollendieck has made an early impression.

"A.J. and Deyunkrea have done a great job developing since last season and Clayton has been a pleasant surprise out of junior college," Lindsey said. "We have three guys that we feel terrific about, which should allow us to play some more 11 and 12 personnel. It won't change our offense a whole lot, but we'll be able to use those guys in different sets and formations, which will help us."

A.J. Lewis is the lone tight end to catch a pass at the DI level, but he makes it count when he does. In two years, Lewis has eight catches for 91 yards … five of those eight catches have resulted in touchdowns.

3. Special Teams

Troy enters the 2021 season having to replace both its starting place kicker and punter from last season. However, the Trojans return one valuable component of their special teams unit.

"Cameron Kaye is definitely a calming factor back there," Lindsey said. "You don't appreciate the long snapper until you don't have one who can do it. He's a guy that's going to be in the NFL for a long time; he's a great player and a better person."

Kaye was named to the preseason watch list for the top long snapper in the country, and he has not recorded a bad snap in 430 career attempts. However, who lines up behind Kaye is still up in the air at one spot, while another has an Aussie out in front.

"Luke Magliozzi is a veteran guy who has stepped out in front to win the punter job," Lindsey said. "He's got a big leg and has done it before in DI games, which is impressive. There are a lot of kicks left out there before we decide on the other spots. Kyle Coale, Brooks Buce and Scott Taylor Renfroe are all competing and it's going to come down to who is the most consistent in the group. Zach Long is a walk-on who has a big leg and can work himself into the mix as well."

One for the Road

Everybody likes to hear about which newcomers are making an impression early in camp. So here are four guys that Lindsey singled out on Friday – RB Damien Taylor, LB Jordan Anthony, WR Peyton Higgins, and CB Caleb Ransaw.